Garment for muffling sound generated by a user&#39;s footstep

ABSTRACT

Abstract of the Disclosure 
     A garment for muffling sound generated by a user’s footstep includes a circumferential sidewall having an upper end, a lower end, and a circumferential lower portion near the lower end.  When the garment is worn, the upper end encircles the user’s leg, and the lower position surrounds the user’s foot and shoe portion that surrounds the foot.  The lower portion has a circumference substantially larger than the circumference of a user’s shoe, whereby the lower portion is spaced away from the user’s shoe during at least part, if not all, of a user’s footstep.  In this fashion, the garment creates an enlarged chamber for muffling sounds generated by the user’s footstep.

Detailed Description of the Invention CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This patent document claims the benefit of the filing date of: Provisional U.S. Patent Application No. 60/554,424 entitled “Game Enhancer Boot Attachment” and filed on March 19, 2004 (Applicants: Barry F. Wright and Ronald A. Reaves); and Provisional U.S. Patent Application No. 60/607,489 filed on September 7, 2004 (Applicants: Barry F. Wright and Ronald A. Reaves). The entire disclosure of each of Provisional U.S. Patent Application Nos. 60/554,424 and 60/607,489 is incorporated into this patent document by reference.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

This invention relates to suppressing or reducing noise that is created when walking or otherwise stepping on the ground and on ground features such as grasses, leaves, twigs, branches, bark, and other objects.

DESCRIPTION OF RELATED ART

Hunters, animal watchers, and outdoor photographers often must get close to the animals they are tracking. However, many of these animals will flee if they sense that a person may be approaching.

One of the ways for a person to reduce the likelihood of triggering such a flight response is to minimize the amount of noise the person makes. In an effort to reduce such noise, one approach calls for a flexible wall that is removably secured to the perimeter of a hunter’s boot sole by a Velcro® fastener system. The wall depends from, and is substantially coextensive with, the perimeter of the boot sole, and includes a strand-like length of resilient material such as plastic or foam rubber. In combination with the boot sole, the wall defines a cavity having a depth at least equal to the vertical thickness of the boot heel. In use, the wall substantially collapses under the user’s weight. (See Folks U.S. Patent No. 4,893,421.) Although the flexible wall may suppress some of the noise created by walking on leaves, twigs, and the like, the wall has several limitations. For example, many of the leaves, twigs, and other objects being stepped on extend beyond the perimeter of the boot sole and depending wall. Accordingly, when a user steps on these items, the portions that extend beyond the perimeter make rustling, crunching, and breaking sounds that are not suppressed. In addition, when a user steps on a larger-diameter item, the strand-like length of resilient material adjacent that item is elevated above the ground surface, thereby forming one or more air gaps. These air gaps allow sound to escape relatively unhindered from underneath the boot.

Another approach calls for a footwear device comprising a cloth upper body for covering and concealing a shoe, an adjustable opening for inserting the shoe into the device, a means for securing which firmly holds the device in place around the shoe, and a bottom sole comprised of a synthetic fur material (i.e., a knitted pile fabric) that reduces noise when an outdoorsman steps on ground objects such as leaves and twigs. (See Davis U.S. Patent No. 5,799,418.) Although the footwear device may reduce some of the noise created by walking on leaves, twigs, and the like, the device has several drawbacks. For example, many of the leaves, twigs, and other objects being stepped on extend beyond the perimeter of the footwear device. Accordingly, when a user steps on these items, the portions that extend beyond the perimeter make rustling, crunching, and breaking sounds that are not suppressed. In addition, many of the ground objects become attached to the synthetic fur material, which leads to additional noise. For example, when a user walks, some of these objects are dragged along the ground. Also, when a user steps on the ground, the user is likely to step on these attached items.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention provides a garment for muffling sound created by a user’s footstep, in which the garment offers a further-enhanced level of sound muffling. To this end, and in accordance with the principles of the invention, the enhanced sound muffling is accomplished by a garment circumferential-sidewall lower portion that has a circumference substantially larger than the circumference of a user’s shoe (e.g., boot). In this fashion, the lower portion is spaced away from the user’s shoe during at least part, if not virtually all, of the user’s footstep when the garment is worn, thereby creating an enlarged chamber that provides an enhanced level of sound muffling.

By virtue of the foregoing, there is thus provided a garment that offers an enhanced level of muffling of sound created by a user’s footstep. This and other advantages of the present invention will be apparent from the accompanying drawings and description of the drawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The accompanying drawings, which are incorporated in, and constitute a part of this specification, illustrate embodiments of the invention, and, together with the general description of the invention given above, and the detailed description of embodiments of the invention given below, serve to explain the principles of the invention. The drawings are schematic, and are not to scale.

Fig. 1 is a perspective view of a pair of sound-muffling garments, in accordance with the principles of the invention, being worn by a user;

Fig. 2 is a perspective view of the right-leg sound-muffling garment shown in Fig. 1;

Fig. 3 is a disassembled cross-sectional view of a portion of the circumferential sidewall of the sound-muffling garment of Fig. 2, taken along line 3-3;

Fig. 4 is a cross-sectional view of another portion of the circumferential sidewall of the sound-muffling garment of Fig. 2, taken along line 4-4;

Fig. 5 is a perspective partially-broken-away view of the left-leg sound-muffling garment of Fig. 1;

Fig. 6 is an elevational side view of a sound-muffling garment worn by a user, in which the user is in mid-step, with the sound-muffling garment being substantially similar to the sound-muffling garments of Fig. 1;

Fig. 7 is an elevational front view of the sound-muffling garment of Fig. 2 being worn by a user, in which the garment is shown in a stowed position;

Fig. 8 is an elevational side view of another sound-muffling garment, in accordance with the principles of the invention, being worn by a user; and

Fig. 9 is a perspective view of a pair of sound-muffling garments in accordance with the principles of the invention, in which each of the sound-muffling garments is connected to a corresponding pant leg of an article of clothing.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

For the convenience of the reader, the same reference number is used to identify identical or substantially identical elements in the embodiments described below and depicted in the drawings.

With reference to Figs. 1-6, each sound-muffling garment 10a, b includes a circumferential sidewall 12 having an upper end 14, a lower end 16, and a circumferential lower portion 18 near the lower end 16. When the garment 10 is worn, the upper end 14 encircles the user’s leg, and the lower portion 18 surrounds the user’s foot and shoe portion that surrounds the foot. As best seen in Figs. 5 and 6, the lower portion 18 has a circumference substantially larger than the circumference of the user’s shoe (e.g., boot 20), whereby the lower portion 18 is spaced away from the user’s shoe during at least part, if not all, of a user’s footstep. In this fashion, the garment 10 creates an enlarged chamber for muffling sounds generated by a user’s footstep. Each garment 10 also includes a longitudinal axis L (Fig. 6).

The upper end 14 of the circumferential sidewall 12 defines an opening that is substantially circular in shape. Extending downward from the upper end 14, however, the sidewall 12 has a generally elliptical or oval cross-sectional shape (transverse to the longitudinal axis L of the garment 10). Also, the circumferential sidewall 12 generally is flared in the direction of the lower end 16. In this fashion, the circumferential sidewall 12 forms an enclosed sound-muffling chamber that not only extends all the way around, but also is spaced away from, the user’s shoe and much of the user’s lower leg.

The circumferential sidewall 12 is made up of one or more layers of material, with the resulting sidewall 12 being flexible. The exterior surface 22 of the circumferential sidewall 12 of each of the garments 10a, b includes a camouflage pattern. However, any suitable pattern(s) and/or color(s) may be used, as desired. The sidewall 12 further includes three elliptically-shaped split rings 24a, b, c, discussed in detail below. The lower end 16 of the circumferential sidewall 12 includes a circumferential, generally downwardly oriented wall 26 made up of a resiliently deformable material, with the material constructed so as to form a series of fringe-like strips. The material, itself, may be any suitable, resiliently deformable material, with one example being a rubber material.

As seen in Fig. 5, the interior surface 28 of the circumferential sidewall 12 includes several pockets. In particular, the interior surface has a pocket 30 for receiving a heating element (e.g., a catalytic heater packet or pouch), and a pair of pockets 32 (only one shown) for receiving scent applicators.

With reference to Figs. 1, 2, 5, and 6, the sound-muffling garment 10 generally is tapered in the direction of the upper end 14. The upper end 14 includes an elasticized cuff 34 (Fig. 2) that encircles, and may be releasably secured around, the lower leg of a user, just below the knee joint. In order to allow a user to put the garment 10 on or take the garment 10 off without having to remove a shoe, the garment 10 also includes a zipper 36 that extends partway down the length of the garment 10 from the cuff 34. A compression strap 38 (Fig. 2) is connected to the cuff 34, and allows the user to further secure the garment 10 about the lower leg. If desired, the innermost layer 40 (Fig. 2) of the cuff 34 may be made of a material having a degree of tack or “stickiness”. Examples include polyester scrim and PVC scrim. If used, this layer 40 further assists in maintaining the cuff 34 at the desired location around the user’s leg.

The sound-muffling garment 10 includes several stiffening elements that assist in keeping the lower portion 18 of the circumferential sidewall 12 spaced radially outward and away from the user’s shoe during much, if not all, of a complete footstep motion. Several of the stiffening elements are elongated resilient members oriented at an angle relative to the longitudinal axis of the garment. With reference to Figs. 1-3, the garment 10 includes three elongated resilient members, each in the form of an elliptically-shaped split ring 24a, b, c. Each ring 24a, b, c is connected to the circumferential sidewall 12 at a different position along the length of the garment 10. In addition, each ring 24a, b, c is oriented at an angle that is substantially perpendicular to the longitudinal axis L of the garment 10. The rings 24a, b, c may be made of any suitable material(s). For example, each ring 24a, b, c may be a length of insulated copper wire positioned inside a length of flexible plastic tubing. In addition, although the elongated resilient members are shown as rings 24a, b, c, any suitable element(s) or design(s) may be used, including, for example, a spiraling coil.

The garment 10 includes additional stiffening elements in the form of layers of foam sheeting. With reference to Figs. 2-4, the particular garment 10a shown includes four layers of foam sheeting 42a, b, c, d, as well as layers of other materials described immediately below. As best seen in Fig. 3, the multi-layer circumferential sidewall 12 includes an outer layer 44 having a water-resistant or water-proof layer 46 coated on the inner surface, the series of four foam layers 42a, b, c, d described immediately above, a layer of batting 48a, b, c between each of the foam layers 42a, b, c, and an inner-most layer 50 that includes the interior surface 28 of the garment 10a. The layers may be connected together as desired, as will be appreciated by one of ordinary skill. For example, one or more adjacent layers may be stitched or adhesively bonded, and any suitable attachment pattern may be used.

Each of these layers may be made of any suitable material, as will be appreciated by one of ordinary skill. For example, if desired, the outer-most layer 44 may be chamois-type fabric having a breathable, liquid resistant, microporous coating (as at 46) on its back surface. Examples of such a material include Walls Breathable Water-Pruf( fabric available from Walls Industries, Inc. of Cleburne, Texas, and Mossy Oak fabric available from Hancock Fabrics, Inc. of Baldwyn, Mississippi. With regard to the foam layers 42, foam sheeting such as that used as an underlayment for hardwood flooring may be used. The batting material 48 may be a polyester batting. And the innermost layer 50 may be a polyester tricot mesh fabric.

As best seen in Figs. 4 and 5, the downwardly-oriented resiliently-deformable wall 26 of the lower end 16 of the garment 10a, b includes two sets of fringe material, with each set including two layers. The first set 52a, b is positioned near the outermost fabric layer 44 of the circumferential sidewall 12, and the second set 54a, b is positioned near the innermost layer 50 of the sidewall 12 (Fig. 4). When assembled, the multiple layers of material of the sidewall 12 effectively form a bottom wall 56, with the fringe material extending downward from the bottom wall 56. In further detail, the first set 52a, b of fringe material extends downward from the bottom wall 56 about twice as far as the second set 54a, b of fringe material. Each layer 52a, b, 54a, b of the resiliently deformable material has an upper portion connected to one or more of the sidewall layers, and a lower portion that extends downward below the bottom wall 56 of those layers. Advantageously, elongated cuts are made in the lower portion, thereby forming the series of fringe-like strips. However, it is not necessary for these cuts to extend into the upper portion of each layer 52a, b, 54a, b. Also, if desired, the cuts may be made at an angle relative to the longitudinal axis L of the garment 10a, b. For example, within each set 52a, b, 54a, b, one layer may be cut or slit so that the resulting fringe strips extend diagonally downward to the right; and the other layer of the set may be slit or cut so that the resulting fringe strips of that other layer extend diagonally downward to the left (see, e.g., Figs. 2 and 5). In this fashion, for each of the two sets 52a, b, 54a, b of fringe material, the first and second layers of fringe strips may flexibly and releasably interweave with each other. Each of the several fringe-strip features described above, taken either alone or in combination, further assists in muffling sounds that are generated by a user’s footstep. For example, these various design features enable the lower end 16 of the circumferential sidewall 12 to conform to any of a number of different ground-surface contours.

As best seen in Fig. 6, the lower end 16 of the circumferential sidewall 12 extends downward beyond the level of the bottom 58 of a user’s boot 20 during a portion of the user’s footstep motion. This feature is particularly beneficial, both during the downward motion of a footstep (as shown in Fig. 6) and during the upward motion of a footstep. In the downward motion, the lower end 16 of the sidewall 12 contacts and conforms with the ground surface 60, thereby effectively forming an enclosed chamber before the user’s boot 20 even makes contact with noise-making objects on the ground surface 60, such as leaves, twigs, or the like. Similarly, as will be appreciated, noise also may be made when a user raises their leg. However, because the lower end 16 of the sidewall 12 remains in contact with the ground as the user raises their shoe off the ground in preparation for taking another step, sounds that may be made by this motion are muffled by the enclosed chamber.

With reference to Fig. 7, the sound-muffling garment 10a of Fig. 2 is shown in an elevated, or stowed, position. In particular, the portion 12a of the circumferential sidewall 12 adjacent the outside (i.e., the lateral portion) of the user’s right leg is gathered up and releasably retained by an elevating member in the form of a stowing strap 62. The lower (i.e., distal) end 62a of the strap 62 may be releasably attached at the exterior surface 22 of the upper end 14 of the sidewall 12 using any suitable fastener(s). For example, a hook-and-loop fastener system may be used. When the garment 10a is in the stowed position, the lower end 16 is elevated above the bottom 58 of the user’s shoe sole. In addition, the portion 12b of the sidewall 12 adjacent the inside surface (i.e., the medial portion) of the user’s leg is significantly closer to the inside surface of the leg and shoe than when the garment 10a is in its deployed position. When the garment 10a is in the stowed position, the user may move swiftly from one location to another, travel up or down steep terrain, or climb up and over large objects with minimal risk of stepping on a portion of the garment 10a.

With reference to Fig. 8, a sound-muffling garment 10(, in accordance with the principles of the invention, has a circumferential sidewall 12( that is significantly shorter than the sidewall 12 of the garment 10 shown in Figs. 1, 2, 5, and 6. Although the garment 10( includes all of the features and aspects of the other garment 10, the garment 10( is sized so that the upper end 14( may be secured around an upper portion 64( of the shoe (e.g., boot 20(), as opposed to around an upper portion of the lower leg near the kneecap.

With reference to Fig. 9, an article of clothing in the form of a pair of “knicker height” pants or bibs 66 (shown in phantom) is shown in combination with a pair of sound-muffling garments 10(. Although the sound-muffling garments 10( are illustrated in a highly schematic fashion, these garments 10( are substantially similar to the sound-muffling garments 10 shown in Fig. 1. The difference between the two pairs of garments 10, 10( is the way in which they are attached to, or worn by, a user. As described above in connection with Figs. 1-2, the upper end 14 of each garment 10 is secured about a user’s pants and lower leg by an elasticized collar 34 and compression strap 38 at the upper end 14. In contrast, as shown in Fig. 9, the upper end 14( of each sound-muffling garment 10( includes a circumferential row of zipper teeth 68. At the same time, the bottom 70 of each knicker-height pant leg includes a corresponding row of zipper teeth 72. In this fashion, each of the sound muffling garments 10( may be quickly and easily attached to or detached from the pants or bibs 66 as desired. Moreover, although not shown, the pants or bibs 66 may further include pant-leg extensions, each having a row of zipper teeth at its upper end, that may be used to convert the knicker-height clothing into full-length pants or bibs, when the sound-muffling garments 10( are not being worn. In addition, it should be understood that the article of clothing may be any other suitable clothing item, for example, coveralls.

In use, and with reference to Fig. 1, a user 74 (e.g., a hunter) is wearing a first sound-muffling garment 10a around the lower right leg and a second sound-muffling garment 10b around the lower left leg. The user 74 is moving slowly across uneven terrain 76 that includes leaves, twigs, sticks, and the like. And the sound-muffling garments 10a, b greatly assist the user 74 in muffling the sound of the user’s footsteps. As will be appreciated, the sound-muffling garment is particularly beneficial in any situation where a person wants to step toward a location or target without being heard, or without the footstep sounds being recognized as the sounds of an approaching person. Accordingly, the sound-muffling garments may be used, for example, in various types of hunting or military situations.

While the present invention has been illustrated by a description of various embodiments, and while the illustrative embodiments have been described in considerable detail, it is not the intention of the inventors to restrict or in any way limit the scope of the appended claims to such detail. Additional advantages and modifications will readily appear to those skilled in the art. The invention in its broader aspects is therefore not limited to the specific details, representative apparatus and methods, and illustrative examples shown and described. Accordingly, departures may be made from such details without departing from the spirit or scope of the inventors’ general inventive concept. 

1. A garment for muffling sound generated by a user’s footstep, comprising: a circumferential sidewall including an upper end, a lower end, and a circumferential lower portion proximate the lower end, the upper end encircling a user’s leg and the lower portion surrounding a user’s leg and shoe when the garment is worn, the lower portion having a circumference substantially larger than the circumference of a user’s shoe, whereby the lower portion is spaced away from a user’s shoe during at least a part of a user’s footstep when the garment is worn, thereby creating an enlarged chamber for muffling sound generated by a user’s footstep.
 2. The garment of claim 1 wherein the circumferential sidewall is flexible.
 3. The garment of claim 1 wherein at least a portion of the lower end extends downward beyond the level of a bottom of a user’s shoe when the garment is worn and a user’s foot is sufficiently elevated above a ground surface, whereby the portion of the lower end contacts the ground surface before the bottom of a user’s shoe contacts the ground surface.
 4. The garment of claim 3 wherein the garment includes a longitudinal axis, and the circumferential sidewall is compressible in the direction of the longitudinal axis, whereby when the portion of the lower end contacts the ground surface, the garment does not inhibit a user from lowering a user’s foot and shoe onto the ground surface.
 5. The garment of claim 1 wherein the garment includes a longitudinal axis, and the circumferential sidewall is compressible in the direction of the longitudinal axis.
 6. The garment of claim 1 wherein the lower end is resiliently deformable, whereby the lower end may form a contour that generally corresponds with the contour of a ground surface upon which the lower end is placed when the garment is worn.
 7. The garment of claim 1 wherein the lower end includes a generally downwardly oriented wall comprising a resiliently deformable material.
 8. The garment of claim 7 wherein the resiliently deformable material includes a rubber material.
 9. The garment of claim 8 wherein the resiliently deformable material is constructed and arranged so as to form a series of fringe-like strips.
 10. The garment of claim 7 wherein the resiliently deformable material is constructed and arranged so as to form a series of fringe-like strips.
 11. The garment of claim 7 wherein the generally downwardly oriented wall includes a plurality of layers.
 12. The garment of claim 1 wherein the circumferential sidewall includes a stiffening element.
 13. The garment of claim 12 wherein the garment includes a longitudinal axis, and the stiffening element includes an elongated resilient member oriented at an angle relative to the longitudinal axis.
 14. The garment of claim 13 wherein the elongated resilient member extends at least partway around the circumferential sidewall.
 15. The garment of claim 12 wherein the stiffening element includes a layer of a resilient foam material.
 16. The garment of claim 1 wherein the circumferential sidewall generally is tapered in the direction of the upper end.
 17. The garment of claim 1 wherein the circumferential sidewall includes multiple layers, the multiple layers assisting in muffling sound generated by a user’s footstep.
 18. The garment of claim 1 further including an elevating member, the elevating member constructed and arranged to releasably retain at least a part of the lower portion of the circumferential sidewall in a position that is elevated relative to a bottom of a user’s shoe when the garment is worn.
 19. The garment of claim 1 further including a pocket constructed and arranged to receive a scent applicator or a heat-generating device.
 20. The garment of claim 1 further including a fastening member, the fastening member constructed and arranged to facilitate wearing the garment in a suitable position encircling a user’s leg and shoe.
 21. The garment of claim 1 in combination with an article of clothing that includes a pant leg, the garment being connected to the pant leg.
 22. The garment of claim 21 wherein the garment and the pant leg are detachably connected. 